2013 Dirty Dozen: Facebook

Facebook

The world’s most popular social networking site has become a top place to trade pornography, which we have reported on numerous occasions. According to reports, even child pornography is regularly shared on Facebook and women and children are trafficked on the site. While Facebook policy prohibits “pornographic content” they do not devote sufficient resources to effectively police their site. Rather, Facebook seems to rely on users to do this work and then they often take days to remove the content. Facebook has the resources to develop better detection tools, yet they have not made this a priority. We hope to change their corporate mind. Sign this petition to Facebook executives urging them to use their resources to address these problems.

Monitor your children’s use of the popular site. Regularly have conversations with them about possible content they might encounter and about Internet safety

Report pornography and other questionable content to the proper authorities. Please do not seek to police the site on your own, but if you stumble across such content, report it to Facebook, The Cyber Tipline and your local FBI office

Make sure your friends and family are aware of the dangers on Facebook and take action to protect against them. Encourage their involvement in this petition to Facebook

The Laws

Federal obscenity laws, which the U.S. Department of Justice refuses to currently enforce, prohibit distribution of hardcore, obscene pornography on the Internet, on cable/satellite or hotel/motel TV and in sexually oriented businesses and other retail shops. (Learn more)

18 U.S.C. 1462 Importation or use of a common carrier to transport obscene matter

18 U.S.C. 1465 Interstate transportation of obscene matter

Sections 1462 and 1465 cited above also prohibit distribution of obscenity on the Internet.